Mark McGowan goes after Peter Dutton, Clive Palmer, the press, everyone

The WA wipeout gave the state’s premier the opportunity and bravado to publicly settle some scores.

WA Premier Mark McGowan (Image: Supplied)

Western Australian Emperor Premier Mark McGowan is a surprisingly bellicose mood, all things considered. Over the weekend he celebrated a second wipeout for the Liberal party in his state in as many years, with the traditional conservative stronghold delivering four seats and a 10% swing to the federal ALP, exceeding even the party’s most optimistic projections.

So naturally, he felt in a good position for a press conference that would settle a few scores. Firstly, he went after the press pack that had followed new Prime Minister Anthony Albanese around the election for their behavior: “Screaming and interrupting, and rude, and insulting, intimidating and bullying. The sort of thing in a workplace you’d get sacked for. They need to reflect on their behaviour. I’ve never seen anything like it.”

And you’ll find no argument from us — it was a uniquely dispiriting performance from the press pack this election.